A good lobby separates movement from waiting. A clear path runs from the entrance to the stair and the lifts, and nobody has to step around furniture to reach home. The lounge sits to one side, with low sofas, armchairs and a copper-toned coffee table, where residents can wait for a car or meet a guest without blocking the route. Bouclé and houndstooth give it the feel of a hotel lounge rather than a waiting room. Two smaller moves make the space more generous. The sculpted timber bench offers a seat for a quick pause, such as tying a shoe or checking a phone, and a slim ledge mounted around a column gives people a place to set down a coffee, a parcel or keys. These are modest details, yet they are what turn a corridor into a common room.